Hard shifting, mistimed shifting, loud thuds and shaking...

MikeDVB · 05-29-2004, 04:35 AM

I made this original post before having the codes pulled. Then I added the codes on once I got them.

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My 98 Saturn SL2 DoHC with auto tranny is... Shifting badly. Well... it's my mom's but we just dropped 7k on it less than a year ago. I need to make sure it keeps running.

Here is a rundown of what happened when I drove it.

The service engine soon light was on when I got in and turned the car on. I thought this was odd. I drove for about 4 minutes and the light went off and the car seemed to be driving like normal.

I pulled into a parking spot to come to a stop and it felt and sounded like I had run over somebody's muffler or rolled through a knee deep pothole. I immediately jumped out of the car and checked the ground beneath the car and found nothing. No potholes nothing that I ran over. There was a loud THUD and a shake when this happened.

When I got back in the car the service engine soon light was back on. On the drive home the car would not kickdown. I mean if I nailed the gas the RPMs would gradually climb up (like putting my 5-speed in 5th gear at 20mph and nailing the gas). There was no kickdown at all.

After a while if I nailed it - it seemed like it would "try" to kickdown but fail. It would make a thud, a shudder, rpms would rev up a small bit and go right back down to where they were.

I got home and parked the car and left it running. I slowly went from park down - P R N D 3 2 - then back up slowly. And I noticed going from reverse to park there was a thud and a shake. And there seems to be a creaking sound while shifting p to r, n to d, from d to 3 to 2 it is quiet, back up to D is quiet, going from D to N is creaky, N to R is creaky, R to P is a thud and a shake. (if any of this makes sense)

I used the Haynes book for this model of car and checked the fuild level of the transmission as it says to and the fluid is within specs. It seems a reddish color (I do not know what auto tranny fluid is supposed to look like) and it does not smell burnt to me.

If anybody could help out in any way I would be very very appreciative. Things to try, things to check, etc.

Thanks for any help you can provide ahead of time,
Mike

------ Engine Codes:

Code P0741
The PCM has determined that the voltage signal from the torque converter clutch indicates inadequate performance or a "stuck off" condition.

Code P0782
The PCM has detected a malfunction in the 2nd to 3rd gear shift.

Code P0732
The PCM has detected an incorrect gear ratio condition in 2nd gear.

Code P0341
The PCM has determined that hte voltage signal from camshaft position sensor "A" is out of range for the current engine operating conditions. (Bank 1 or single sensor) (bank 1 identifies the location of cylinder #1, while bank 2 identifies the cylinders on the opposite bank)

Code P0133
The PCM has determined that the response time for oxegyn sensor 1 in bank 1 was too slow during testing. (Oxegyn sensor 1 is closest to the cylinder head before the catalytic converter, while oxygen sensor 2 & 3 are located further downstream and are typically mounted in or after the catalytic converter) (bank 1 identifies the location of cylinder #1, while bank 2 identifies the cylinders on the opposite bank)

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I am not sure if this is just some electrical problem with sensor bank 1? Or maybe just a wiring problem in general... or if the transmission is on the verge of death. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

KAdams4458 · 05-29-2004, 05:15 AM

Glad to see that you made it over here.

It might tale a while for someone to post a response, but don't get discouraged. We have some pretty experienced people here.

MikeDVB · 05-29-2004, 06:08 AM

Well if I don't get a helpful response by Monday the car is going to the dealership. It's my mom's work transportation and she needs the car =) So here's hoping *crosses fingers*

Mike

jeep45238 · 05-29-2004, 04:23 PM

I'm going to guess a valvebody. Try this little trick:

NOTE: This proceedure "can" often cure a delayed engagement or reverse (reverse slam) in Saturn autotransaxles PROVIDED you have not waited "too long"

DO NOT MAKE UP YOUR "OWN VERSION" follow the instructions exactly...

The "works nearly everytime" cure for the reverse "slam"

1. Change the transaxle fluid and filter (use "conventional" not synthetic fluid)
2. Add your choice of automatic transmission fluid additive (transmedic, Lucas etc...personal choice, Prolong auto transmission additive)
3. Start the car firmly set the parking brake, chock the wheels and or back it up against a firm immovable object (A brick wall works well)
4. Put the car in REVERSE and LEAVE IT THERE, RUNNING, IN REVERSE, for about 20-30 mins at idle.

What this does is use the clean transaxle fluid and additive to flush out the reverse passage in the valve body by simulating driving in reverse for about 10 miles. IT WILL NOT HARM THE TRANSAXLE OR ENGINE IN ANY WAY. After completing this proceedure, (99 times out of 100) your reverse slam will vanish for at least several months and maybe forever (actually usually forever is a better description) Maintain the transaxle correctly from that point forward. If it initially does not work for long, you can REPEAT the proceedure without changing the clean fluid and sometimes net good results BUT if after 2 tries things have not improved you are probably looking at valve body replacement. YOU MUST CHANGE THE FLUID FIRST! Doing this with "dirty" fluid still in the transaxle may actually make it WORSE. Also "normal" transmissiopn "flushes" WILL NOT cure this problem, as they don't feed enough "warm" clean fluid through the valve body for long enough.

Brought to you by the freindly neighborhood wolfman

MikeDVB · 05-30-2004, 11:11 AM

Would this fix the rest of the problems as well do you think?

I was thinking to change the fluid and filter and see if that does the trick.

And what do you think about the various codes?

jeep45238 · 05-30-2004, 02:06 PM

Ask wolfman.......it can't hurt it anymore, I'd try it.

MikeDVB · 06-01-2004, 08:25 PM

Yeah... It was the valve body. The actuators in it were bad. 5 of them. That and the input shaft nut was loose, and the bus plate connector was nearly completely corroded.

Total bill: 1,625

ouch

afsaturn1 · 06-01-2004, 08:43 PM

Yeah ouch is right!!